If the Raptors are to advance to the second round, several things need to happen on Sunday.

The team cannot begin the game in a daze, as has happened in other contests, most recently, Friday in Brooklyn. “We came out like we were in never-never land in the first quarter,” head coach Dwane Casey said on Saturday. By the time Casey’s team roused itself, the Nets had put up 34 points on near-70% shooting. The Raptors took great pride in “throwing the first punch” and establishing an early tone all season. When that happened, more often than not, the team won.

But Brooklyn has been the aggressor several times now. The Nets have been able to get to wherever they want to go and have forced the Raptors out of what they would like to do offensively.

That can’t happen again Sunday. As much as this group loves to claw out of any hole, the margin of error in a Game 7 is extremely small.

“We started the game out with the opposite disposition that we wanted to, I thought they came out in a desperate mode and we didn’t,” Casey said after Game 6.

If the same script plays out in Toronto, the season likely will be done for the home side.

What would help the Raptors get off to a good start at both ends of the floor? The good version of Amir Johnson. The team’s best defender and most efficient inside finisher has only lived up to that advanced billing for parts of the series. Johnson has been great on occasion, brutal on others. Add it all up, and his contribution has been well short of what he usually provides. Johnson is a team-worst -34 in the series. Usually, the team has slipped considerably when he is not on the floor, compared to when he is.

There is no doubt Johnson is as banged up as anybody in the series. Perhaps it is time Casey makes the bold move of replacing him with Patrick Patterson, who has played well and provides more scoring to a starting group that has had some issues putting the ball in the hoop.

Speaking of the offence, Brooklyn is blitzing Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan or Greivis Vasquez before they can initiate the offence in half-court sets. Patrick Patterson or Terrence Ross could help with that, by hitting outside shots. But first, the ball has to get to them.

How?

“Be an outlet, change the angle,” DeRozan said. “Just attack and understand we can take advantage.”

Casey wants his ball-handlers to “trust the pass” to concentrate on moving the ball around instead of dribbling into double-teams.

“Every time we seemed to set a pick-and-roll, whether it was the four or the five out there on the perimeter, they seemed to trap or cause havoc and get the ball out of their hands and force other people to make plays,” Patterson said post-game Friday.

“We just have to do a better job, whether it’s slipping (screens) or it’s a pass-pass combination.”

The team also must improve on the boards. The big men should be cleaning up down low and the guards and small forward can’t be dominated by Brooklyn’s backcourt again.

FROM HATER TO TOP PLAYER

The only other time the Raptors played a game 7, Lowry was rooting hard for the team’s opponent. No surprise there, since Lowry is a proud Philadelphia native. The Raptors fell to the Sixers in a thriller, when Vince Carter rimmed out the biggest shot in franchise history.

“It was a hell of a game. I was a fan back then of the other team but it was a great game,” Lowry recalled Saturday.

Lowry has a bit of Allen Iverson in his game, he’s fearless and a dogged competitor. Luckily for the Raptors, this time, the six-foot point guard with a large chip on his shoulder, plays for Toronto.

BIG GAME

Casey said the players were shown images of Maple Leaf Square and told them: “This is what you’re playing for.”

Lowry and Chuck Hayes have been through finales like this and know what is at stake.

“Game 7 is Game 7, no matter what round its in, its Game 7. 3-3. Win or go home. Either you’re going to the Bahamas or the second round,” Lowry said.

“You should be exhausted by the time the game is over. Intensity is going to rise. You probably wont be able to hear yourself think,” Hayes said of the atmosphere.

Paul Pierce has been in this situation before too.

“It’s going to be fun. This is what the NBA is all about — these pressure-type moments,” Pierce said.

“These are the types of games that elevate the good players to great players. We have so many of them coming up this weekend. It’s an exciting time and we’re going to enjoy it. It’s a hostile environment — win or go home.

“Hey, this is the type of situation that I love and want to be in. I love our chances.”

This is the fourth Game 7 ever played at the ACC. The first for the Raptors after three victories by the Leafs (vs. Islanders in 2002, vs. Senators in 2003, vs. Senators in 2004)

NOT SATISFIED

DeRozan had a quick response when asked is the season could still be considered a success without winning the series.

“For us, personally, that’s our whole goal, is to get out of this round,” DeRozan said. “We’ve been fighting, it’s been a hell of a series and we understand what this game has at stake. At the outside everybody’s going to say that we had a great season but we’re not satisfied at all.”

Raptors needs an early wake-up call

Can’t sleep through the first quarter as they did in Game 6

If the Raptors are to advance to the second round, several things need to happen on Sunday.

The team cannot begin the game in a daze, as has happened in other contests, most recently, Friday in Brooklyn. “We came out like we were in never-never land in the first quarter,” head coach Dwane Casey said on Saturday. By the time Casey’s team roused itself, the Nets had put up 34 points on near-70% shooting. The Raptors took great pride in “throwing the first punch” and establishing an early tone all season. When that happened, more often than not, the team won.

But Brooklyn has been the aggressor several times now. The Nets have been able to get to wherever they want to go and have forced the Raptors out of what they would like to do offensively.

That can’t happen again Sunday. As much as this group loves to claw out of any hole, the margin of error in a Game 7 is extremely small.

“We started the game out with the opposite disposition that we wanted to, I thought